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David Warner returning to Australia after being dropped from ODI squad to meet England

Sun Sep 01 20:25:29 EST 2013

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Returning home ... David Warner

Getty Images: Brendon Thorne, File Photo

David Warner will return home early from Australia's tour of the UK after being dropped for the one-day matches due to a lack of form in the format.

Despite top scoring with 53 in Australia's 29-run loss to England in the second Twenty20 at Chester-le-Street on Sunday morning (AEST), Warner failed to survive the cut for the 50-over format.

Paceman Mitchell Starc will also return home due to lower back soreness.

Australia's squad was reduced from 18 to 15 ahead of the one-off one-day international against Scotland on Tuesday and the five-match series against England starting on Friday.

Steve Smith was also released from the squad early due to a minor injury.

The decision to drop opener Warner comes despite him playing only four one-day international games this year.

He scored 9 against in his only appearance in June's Champions Trophy, before being suspended from the rest of the tournament following his altercation with Joe Root in a bar.

Warner played in three matches against Sri Lanka in the Australian summer, averaging almost 25, and had largely disappointing one-day campaigns in England and the UAE last year.

"David has been left out of the Australian ODI squad for this tour purely due to his recent lack of form in this format," Australian coach Darren Lehmann said.

"By his own admission, David would acknowledge that unfortunately he hasn't scored the weight of runs that he would like recently in one-day cricket for his country.

"Like all selection matters, it was a tough decision but like all players he understands the situation and knows he needs to get back to playing (domestic one-day cricket) and making a heap of runs that we can't ignore."

Lehmann says he has spoken at length to Warner about what is required to win his place back in the team.

"I've been impressed with his attitude since I've come into the Australian set-up," he said.

Australian team doctor Peter Brukner says the decision to send Starc home was precautionary.

"Mitch reported some lower back pain in recent days so we have decided its best for him to return to Australia for further assessment and investigation," he said.